Double Bass 5 string vs C extension.

[Neil Pye]

1. You need a longer string. Many many different strings available, although not all manufacturers supply them, and even those that do, not always for all their lines of strings.

2. I have seen B extensions, even a mechanical one, but they do look particularly hard work! I guess, as most extensions are pretty much custom made, you can have whatever you want!

 

[zeytoun]

Just do C-G-D-A tuning. Problem solved.

*ducks*

 

[Les Fret]

2. I have seen B extensions, even a mechanical one, but they do look particularly hard work! I guess, as most extensions are pretty much custom made, you can have whatever you want!

Why do you think it is hard work? are those few extra inches length going to make that much difference? Will C extension strings also fit the B extension?

And two more questions
1. can adding a C extension to a bass make it top/neck heavy? or is the added weight not so much?
2. where do you leave the thumb when playing the low notes on the extension?

 

[Neil Pye]

I've never played a B extension, it just LOOKS hard work!

The C extension has made my bass neck heavy, but only just. I have to leave my duster over the end pin! In fairness, I have a keyed Fawcett type, and a gated one is probably a lot lighter.

Again, keyed extension means no problems with where your thumb goes, so someone else will have to tell you that!

 

[Les Fret]

One more practical question: will a bass with c extension still fit in your bag?

 

[Randy Ward]

One more practical question: will a bass with c extension still fit in your bag?

Mine fits no problem. Most extensions I've seen are designed to add very little height if any. See avatar.

 

[Neil Pye]

One more practical question: will a bass with c extension still fit in your bag?

Depends how close your bag fits, but i'd say mostly yes

 

[Les Fret]

Ok good to know. Have to try out an extension in the next few weeks. Do you think there are also extra long A strings that fit an extension? Want to try it on a higher tuned bass.

 

[Neil Pye]

I very much doubt it - I've never heard of such a thing

 

[Les Fret]

Ok that's too bad. Any other solutions? A special made string or something maybe?

Or maybe a super light extension F# solo string that you can tune to A?

 

[Neil Pye]

The only extension F# I know of is a Kaplan Solo. That's a highish tension string already, I certainly wouldn't encourage anyone to try to tune it to A....

 

[Les Fret]

Agreed. The idea was good though

Instead of going lower you can also tune the other strings a fourth higher and still get the low E or F with the extension. I have one bass tuned in ADGC.
Now my 'only' problem is finding the right string.

 

[Anton Avis]

Thinking about getting a C extension. I have two questions though:

1. Can any normal E string be used for it or do you need a special longer string?

2. Is there also such a thing as a B extension? Or would that fingerboard be too long to reach for the left hand? Or too long for the string to fit?

Yes, you do need a longer string, but the luthier will provide that. You can get low B extensions

 

[mtto]

Agreed. The idea was good though

Instead of going lower you can also tune the other strings a fourth higher and still get the low E or F with the extension. I have one bass tuned in ADGC.
Now my 'only' problem is finding the right string.

You could try an F# extension string, tuned to G. GDGC, which would be Edgar Meyer's tuning, a minor 3rd up.

 

[Neil Pye]

For solo work, Edgar's tuning makes perfect sense, for two reasons. First, not much solo rep makes much use of the bottom string. Second, saves you the coin for a solo F# string. Why do we not all just leave our basses in 4ths? Lots of people manage to play lots of music like that

 

[Les Fret]

You could try an F# extension string, tuned to G. GDGC, which would be Edgar Meyer's tuning, a minor 3rd up.

Yes I sometimes do that already by detuning the A string. Don't need an extension for that. The reason for an extension would be that I could still have the low E in case if a B extension or the low F in case of a C extension.

You can say why not using a 5 string? But I just prefer 4 string basses for the reasons already mentioned by others in this topic.

 

[mtto]

An F# extension string, tuned up to G, would let you get down to a low Eb. Certainly an unusual tuning! With a gated extension you could leave the first gate closed, giving you back the "open" E string.

I used to play a 4 string bass with an extension. It drove me nuts. When I found a 5 string, I made the leap. I will post about my bass later.

 

[ILIA]

One more practical question: will a bass with c extension still fit in your bag?

I had an issue with this when I converted a bass without an extension to a bass with an extension. The bag fit, but it was tight, and was probably causing some stress on the hardware. I ended up buying a new bag.

 

[Les Fret]

An F# extension string, tuned up to G, would let you get down to a low Eb. Certainly an unusual tuning! With a gated extension you could leave the first gate closed, giving you back the "open" E string.
.

You might be on to something! I will consider this tuning. It’s less ideal for me than the ADGC tuning with extension to E. But that’s seems impossible for now since there are no extended A strings. So I have to drop that idea I guess.

 

[wathaet]

Good five string basses are being built every day in Europe. .

News to me, I have never liked any and I am shopping for a backup bass in the €30k range right now. Would like to try the Hachez fivestring in Germany though.